Sep 6, 2014 By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read

Execution was the name of the game as Upper St. Clair defeated Peters Township, 35-13, and scored its first WPIAL Quad-A football win in Southeastern Conference play.

“We did not execute,” said PT skipper Rich Piccinini. “We gave up big plays.”

Two of the biggest plays came with under six minutes to play in a pivotal second stanza. With 5:07 to go in the half, Dan Trocano connected with Marcus Galie for a 9-yard TD strike on a fourth-and-9 play. USC also scored with 17.6 seconds left in the first session when Andrew Bartusiak hauled in a 33-yard TD aerial from Trocano.

The score had come on the heels of a PT score. After two big receptions by Tim Swoope, Cory Owen scooted 17 yards into the end zone with 1:26 to play in the first half.

Noting that he was pleased with the way his team responded when the Indians struck, Jim Render said, “we showed poise and we made some plays. That was a big part of the game. We felt we could do some things against them.” Particularly, he added, when the Indians were in their goal-line defense.

In addition to Trocano, Gunnar Lund did some things that punished Peters. The junior signal caller substituted for Trocano on rushing plays. As a result, Lund ran for two scores. He darted 15 yards for USC’s first strike 51 seconds into the second stanza. He also tacked on a 7-yard scamper up the middle and into the end zone with 10:59 left in the third quarter.

USC also utilized Jackson Geisler behind center. Render says he was pleased with the things his talented sophomore did late in the fray.

“You might call it a wrinkle in the offense,” Render said in reply to a reporter’s question, “but we developed that when we had Dakota Conwell (Arizona) and Pete Coughlin (W&J). It’s not one quarterback versus another quarterback. It’s what we like to do and have done. There is no grand scheme. It’s a process.”

After processing a loss to Penn Hills, 31-13, the Panthers appeared much improved from that turnover-plagued season opener. Tom Vissman rushed for over 100 yards and Galie contributed another touchdown on a 26-yard run to complete USC’s scoring.

“We did not give the ball away,” Render noted dryly.

“We were another week mature. A lot of our kids never started and played under the lights before,” he continued. “Coaching football is a process. I had to remember that but then I’m not a patient person.”

This week, Piccinini will not be a patient person either. The Indians dropped to 0-2 in the conference and cannot afford a loss to Canon-McMillan. Peters Township hosts the Big Macs at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12. After its defeat to Penn Hills, 42-7, Canon-Mac, also, slipped to 0-2.

“We have to get that first win,” Piccinini said. “Regardless of whom we are playing, we have to get a win.”

USC will also be looking for a victory but it won’t come easy as the Panthers visit rival Bethel Park. The Hawks (0-2) are coming off a bitter defeat to Woodland Hills, 33-31.

With 1:30 to play, Charlie Davis scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Hawks a 31-27 lead. However, the Wolverines answered, returning the ensuing kickoff for a 75-yard touchdown by Art Thompkins, a Toledo recruit.

Two TD passes by Levi Metheny to Chiante Pryor and Jake Dixon kept the Hawks within reach of the Wolverines. In the first half, they trailed, 13-12. A field goal and a safety enabled BP to forge head, 17-13, in the third quarter.

BP took advantage of another WH miscue and parlayed that into a 24-13 advantage. But the Wolverines roared back on a 64-yard TD pass from Thomkins. The Wolverines also stopped the Hawks on a fourth-and-3 with 3:32 to play.

“Unbelievable,” Render said of the Hawks’ game against Woodland Hills, then noted, “we will be ready [for Bethel].”

Mt. Lebanon appears ready for Baldwin. For the second week in a row, the Blue Devils posted a big win, routing Moon, 54-6, in non-conference play. The Highlanders dropped a non-league game against Butler, 31-21.

In other Friday night action, South Fayette whipped Keystone Oaks, 51-7, while Seton-La Salle thumbed South Allegheny, 41-20, in Century Conference play. The Lions visit South Park; SLS plays Carlynton and East Allegheny hosts Keystone Oaks on Sept. 12.